Body

12 Tips for Healthy Hair

Superheroes care about their exercise regimens – but why do we care about hair? Because how healthy your hair is affects how others perceive you. Bouncy, shiny hair is attractive and gives off an impression of confidence. Hair that’s stringy and flat makes you seem mousy and decidedly not superhero like. Make sure your hair is giving off the right impression with our 12 tips.

1. Take care of your health.

Like your nails, hair is a constantly growing tissue that’s affected by your overall health. That’s why your hair falls out when you’re stressed! So make sure you’re taking care of your whole body if you want shiny hair. De-stress regularly, eat right, go to the gym and stop smoking. Some medical conditions like a thyroid problem can also cause issues with hair.

2. Get the right nutrients.

For strong hair, you need to feed it right. Iron, zinc, vitamin D and biotin (found in eggs) all help hair to grow. Protein and vitamin C keeps it strong, while omega-3 fatty acids keep hair shiny and hydrated. While all these nutrients can be found in supplements, it’s best to get them through natural sources AKA a balanced diet. You should also avoid juice cleanses – these spike your insulin level dramatically and could cause your hair to fall out.

3. Wash appropriately.

Washing your hair seems like a super-basic skill, but you’d be surprised by how many people do it wrong. First, you don’t need to wash your hair every day unless it’s extremely oily. Overwashing strips your scalp of its natural oils and dries out your hair. Most people need to wash every other day or about 3 times a week. Wash more if you see flakes in your scalp to avoid dandruff. When you do wash, concentrate shampoo on your scalp and conditioner on the ends of your hair. Can’t deal with washing so little? Try washing your hair with water and just using conditioner on the days you don’t shampoo.

4. Use the right products.

Many people load up their hair with styling products – but that just weighs it down! You can get by just fine with just shampoo and a conditioner. Add a styler and finisher if you feel so inclined, but using more than 4 products in your hair is a bad idea. You should also always follow directions – leaving something in too long could damage your scalp. Make sure each product is formulated for your hair type, and check the ingredients list. For example, you might want to avoid sulfates which can dry out hair and up the risk of breakage. There are many natural and even DIY alternatives to common hair products.

5. Protect your hair from the elements.

Wind, sun, salt – great in summer but not for your hair. Wear hats or scarves in extreme weather to protect yourself, and use a SPF-fortified hair spray. Heading into a pool or saltwater? Wet your hair and condition it before diving in for an extra layer of protection against chlorine and salt. Better yet, wear a swimming cap.

6. Be careful with hair dye.

Dyeing your hair isn’t the healthiest choice you can make, but there are things you can do to make it better. Wait 6 weeks before salon appointments -8 if you can handle it. Protect your hair from the sun to stop color from fading. Don’t wash super–often and when you do, always use products designed for color-treated hair.

7. Watch the heat.

It’s best to never use blow dryers, flat irons or curling irons – but that’s not a feasible option for many people. That said, hot appliances can break down the outer protective layer of hair and leave you with a straw-like texture. Don’t use heated appliances on your hair more than a few times a week and when you do, always use a heat protectant first. Never blast a blow dryer on wet hair – let it air dry as much as you can. Conversely, flat and curling irons should only ever be used on dry hair. Otherwise, the heat can cause breakage.

8. Cut regularly.

Sure, it’s annoying getting your hair cut every 6 weeks. But split ends are often inevitable and the only way to get rid of them is with regular trims. While you’re getting your haircut, make sure the style you have works for you. If it’s too difficult to maintain, you can’t keep your hair healthy – plus it won’t look as good. Men, if you’re balding, consider a shorter cut since a combover is never a good look.

9. Stay hydrated.

Drinking lots of water is crucial for healthy, shiny hair – but it’s also important to keep it hydrated from the outside. Use a humidifier in cold or dry weather. And avoid very hot showers, which can dry out your hair. Keep the temperature lukewarm and finish with a blast of cold water for extra shine.

10. Dry your hair properly.

If you’re rubbing your hair dry with a towel, you’re doing it wrong. Rubbing can break your hair and cause split ends. Wrap your hair to absorb the moisture instead, using a T-shirt if you can since they’re gentler on your hair. Wait until it’s mostly dry until you break out the blow dryer. And don’t think it has to be completely dry before you start styling. 90% dry is good enough.

11. Invest in the right tools.

Superheroes don’t go out on missions without the right tools, and the same goes for keeping your hair healthy. A silk pillowcase prevents breakage and moisture loss, while a boar bristle brush is best for distributing your natural oils. Just don’t use it on wet hair – for that, a wide-tooth comb will keep your hair from splitting. Finally, pick heated appliances with bells and whistles – like a blow dryer with a diffuser or a flat iron that displays the temperature – for healthy hair.

Superheroes care about their exercise regimens – but why do we care about hair? Because how healthy your hair is affects how others perceive you. Bouncy, shiny hair is attractive and gives off an impression of confidence. Hair that’s stringy and flat makes you seem mousy and decidedly not superhero like. Make sure your hair is giving off the right impression with our 12 tips.

1. Take care of your health.

Like your nails, hair is a constantly growing tissue that’s affected by your overall health. That’s why your hair falls out when you’re stressed! So make sure you’re taking care of your whole body if you want shiny hair. De-stress regularly, eat right, go to the gym and stop smoking. Some medical conditions like a thyroid problem can also cause issues with hair.

2. Get the right nutrients.

For strong hair, you need to feed it right. Iron, zinc, vitamin D and biotin (found in eggs) all help hair to grow. Protein and vitamin C keeps it strong, while omega-3 fatty acids keep hair shiny and hydrated. While all these nutrients can be found in supplements, it’s best to get them through natural sources AKA a balanced diet. You should also avoid juice cleanses – these spike your insulin level dramatically and could cause your hair to fall out.

3. Wash appropriately.

Washing your hair seems like a super-basic skill, but you’d be surprised by how many people do it wrong. First, you don’t need to wash your hair every day unless it’s extremely oily. Overwashing strips your scalp of its natural oils and dries out your hair. Most people need to wash every other day or about 3 times a week. Wash more if you see flakes in your scalp to avoid dandruff. When you do wash, concentrate shampoo on your scalp and conditioner on the ends of your hair. Can’t deal with washing so little? Try washing your hair with water and just using conditioner on the days you don’t shampoo.

4. Use the right products.

Many people load up their hair with styling products – but that just weighs it down! You can get by just fine with just shampoo and a conditioner. Add a styler and finisher if you feel so inclined, but using more than 4 products in your hair is a bad idea. You should also always follow directions – leaving something in too long could damage your scalp. Make sure each product is formulated for your hair type, and check the ingredients list. For example, you might want to avoid sulfates which can dry out hair and up the risk of breakage. There are many natural and even DIY alternatives to common hair products.

5. Protect your hair from the elements.

Wind, sun, salt – great in summer but not for your hair. Wear hats or scarves in extreme weather to protect yourself, and use a SPF-fortified hair spray. Heading into a pool or saltwater? Wet your hair and condition it before diving in for an extra layer of protection against chlorine and salt. Better yet, wear a swimming cap.

6. Be careful with hair dye.

Dyeing your hair isn’t the healthiest choice you can make, but there are things you can do to make it better. Wait 6 weeks before salon appointments -8 if you can handle it. Protect your hair from the sun to stop color from fading. Don’t wash super–often and when you do, always use products designed for color-treated hair.

7. Watch the heat.

It’s best to never use blow dryers, flat irons or curling irons – but that’s not a feasible option for many people. That said, hot appliances can break down the outer protective layer of hair and leave you with a straw-like texture. Don’t use heated appliances on your hair more than a few times a week and when you do, always use a heat protectant first. Never blast a blow dryer on wet hair – let it air dry as much as you can. Conversely, flat and curling irons should only ever be used on dry hair. Otherwise, the heat can cause breakage.

8. Cut regularly.

Sure, it’s annoying getting your hair cut every 6 weeks. But split ends are often inevitable and the only way to get rid of them is with regular trims. While you’re getting your haircut, make sure the style you have works for you. If it’s too difficult to maintain, you can’t keep your hair healthy – plus it won’t look as good. Men, if you’re balding, consider a shorter cut since a combover is never a good look.

9. Stay hydrated.

Drinking lots of water is crucial for healthy, shiny hair – but it’s also important to keep it hydrated from the outside. Use a humidifier in cold or dry weather. And avoid very hot showers, which can dry out your hair. Keep the temperature lukewarm and finish with a blast of cold water for extra shine.

10. Dry your hair properly.

If you’re rubbing your hair dry with a towel, you’re doing it wrong. Rubbing can break your hair and cause split ends. Wrap your hair to absorb the moisture instead, using a T-shirt if you can since they’re gentler on your hair. Wait until it’s mostly dry until you break out the blow dryer. And don’t think it has to be completely dry before you start styling. 90% dry is good enough.

11. Invest in the right tools.

Superheroes don’t go out on missions without the right tools, and the same goes for keeping your hair healthy. A silk pillowcase prevents breakage and moisture loss, while a boar bristle brush is best for distributing your natural oils. Just don’t use it on wet hair – for that, a wide-tooth comb will keep your hair from splitting. Finally, pick heated appliances with bells and whistles – like a blow dryer with a diffuser or a flat iron that displays the temperature – for healthy hair.